Retarding device for fire-escapes.



H. C. CODER. RETARDING DEVICE FOR FIRE ESCAPES.

APPLICATION FILED MAYH,1915.

1,169,239. Patented Jan. 25, 1916.

2 SHEETSSHEET 1.

H. C. CODER.

RETARDING DEVICE FOR FIRE ESCAPES.

APPLICATION FILED MAY H, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Patented Jan. 25, 1916.

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HARNEY G. CODER, 0F OKIVIULGEE, GKLAHOMA.

RETARDING DEVICE FOR FIRE-ESGAPES.

messes.

- To all whom it may concern:

Be it kn wn that I, HARNEY C. Gonna, citizen of. the United States, residing at Olrmulgee, in the county of Okmulgee and State of Gklahoma, have invented certain I new and useful Improvements in Retarding Devices for Fire-Escapes, of which the following 1s a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in tire escapes of the class wherein a winding drum and a suspension cable 1s employed,

and has for one of its objects to simplify and improve the construction and increase the etliciency and utility of a device of this character.

Another object of the invention is to provide a simply constructed device including a winding drum for a suspension cable, and an effectual governing apparatus for controlling the speed of descent.

. Another object of the invention is to provide a simply constructed device which is compact in form, can be carried in a valise or traveling bag, and is readily attachable within aroom adjacent to a window and enables a person to escape through the window or other opening and to be conveyed to the ground, no matter what the elevation of the window may be.

With these and other objects in view the invention consists in certain novel features ofconstruction as hereinafter shown and described and then specifically pointed out in the claims; and in the drawings illustrative of the preferred embodiment ofthe invention: Figure l is a side elevation of the improved apparatus. Fig. 2 is a front View of the same. Fi 3 is a plan View. Fig. 4-

is a detached perspective View ofthe gov-v ernor wheel of the improved device. Fig. 5

is a side elevation of the toothed wheel and i 11l2 extending therefrom and firmly boltand another shaft 16 carried by the brackets ed to the frame or; support as shown at l31l. A nain supporting shaft 15 is carried by the brackets 1112 at one point Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented an. 25, 19195.

at another point. Connected to rotate with the shaft 15 is a cable winding drum 17 to which a cable 18 is connected at one end and with a supporting snap 19 or like device at the free end of the cable. The cable 18 will be of sufficient length, when unwound, to lead from the window or floor upon which the device is employed, to the ground, and will vary in length according to the height of the floor or window opening from the ground. F or instance,when employed upon the second floor of a building a comparatively short cable would be required, whereas, if employed upon the fifth floor ofa building, the cable would necessarily be much longer, as will be obvious. The size of the drum and the length of the cable will therefore be proportioned according to the distance from the floor or window to the ground.

At its upper end the frame or body 10 is provided with a suspension hook 20 connected thereto by a suitable system of links,:

a wheel 23 having inclined teeth or recesses 2e extending entirely around the same. Connected to rotate with the shaft 15 is a ratchet wheel 42, and pivoted at 43 to the wheel 23 is a pawl 44 preferably spring pressed, and engaging the teeth of the ratchet as shown in Fig. 5. The shaft 15 is provided with a square end 415 to receive a winding crank d6, the object to .be hereafter explained.

Mounted to swing intermediate its'ends upon the shaft 16 is an arm 25 having pros jections 26--27 at its ends, the projections being preferably ll-shaped and adapted to alternately engage the teeth 24:, as hereafter explained. Mounted for oscillation upon the shaftl is a governor member 28, preferably in disk form, and relatively heavy, to produce the requisite momentum when oscillated. Pro.- jecting from the member 28 is a rib 29 having slots 3031 at opposite sides of the.

shaft. Extending through the slot 30 is a bolt 32 and secured adjustably in the slot by a clamp nut 83. Extending through the slot 81 is another bolt 3% secured in place in the slot by a clamp nut 35. By this means the bolts 3234 may be adjusted toward or away from the shaft 15 to any desired eX- tent within the range of the slots 30-31.

Pivoted at 36 to the bolt 32 is a rod 87,

while a similar rod 88 is pivoted at 39 to the'bolt 34:. At its outer end the rod 37 is pivoted at to to the arm 25 at one sideof the shaft 16, while the rod 38 is pivoted at 41 to the arm 25 at the opposite side of the shaft 16.

The improved device may be constructed of any suitable size and of any suitable strength but will generally be as small as possible consistent with the strains to which it will be subjected when in use, and may be employed at any place where it is necessary to escape from a fire. 7 7

The improved device may be attachedpermanently within the room adjacent to a win- .dow or adapted to be applied only when required, or'in caserof emergency. When installed permanently in a building, the hook 20 may be replaced by a ring, represented at 47 in Fig. 6 and adapted to be attached to a hook or other support, but when arranged for transportation or to be employed by an individual, the hooks 2022 will be an important part of the device, as by their use the apparatus may be instantly connected to any projecting portion or fixture in the room, as for instance, by being driven beneath the Window casing below the window opening or driven behind the casing at the upper side of the window opening.

It will be understood that the cable is fully wound upon the drum prior to the use "of the device, and when the device is tobe used, the user attaches the terminal member 19, for instance, the spring snap 19, to a band around the body, or an endless loop,

' in'which'the person to use the device'places his foot, but as these numerous devices are not a part of the invention, it is not deemed necessary to illustrate them as their construction is well known. When the weight of the person is applied to the cable 18, the drum 17, together with the members which are attached ,to the shaft 15, are rotated. The tooth to which, for the time being, the portion 27 of the arm 25 is attached, is forced outwardly,

which movement forces the terminal 26 at the opposite end of the arm into engagement withone of the teeth, and as the strain continues, the second member 26 is forced outwardly, which movement forces the other member 27 inwardly again and so on step by step until the drum is unwound. As before stated, the member 25 is connected to the relatively heavy governor disk 28 by the rods 37 38, and as the member 25 is rapidly.

vibrated by the alternating action of. the

' teeth 24, the relatively heavy'disk 28 islikewise vibrated and by its momentum checks the movement of the arm '25 and governs and controls the speed of the descent. If a 7 more rapid descent is required, the bolts 32-34- are adjusted in the slots 3031 farther from the shaft 15, and if a less rapid descent is required, the bolts are adjusted toward the inner ends ofthe slots, as will be obvious. By this simple arrangement, the speed of descent may be readily controlled.

If two or more persons are to use the de struction, can be strongly and cheaply constructed and of any 'desiredmaterial.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

'1'. In an apparatus of the class described, a toothed wheel-adapted to be coupled to a winding drum, an arm pivoted intermediate its ends, a pawl device pivoted intermediate its ends and alternately engaging the teeth by its terminals, and connecting means between said pawl device at each side of its pivot and to said arm at each side of its pivot.

2. In an apparatus of the class described, a wheel, a pawl pivoted intermediate its'ends and adapted to be alternately engaged at each side of its center of movement with said wheel, a governor device mounted "to oscillate, an arm partaking of the movement of said governor device, and connecting means pivoted to said pawl at each'side :of its center ofmovement and pivoted to "said arm at each side of its center of movement.

3. In an apparatus of the class described,

a toothed wheel adapted to be coupled to a wheel, an arm "pivoted intermediate itsends,

and coupling means pivoted tosa id paw-l 'de v1ce at each side of its center of "movement and pivoted to said arm at each side of its center of movement. 7 j j Inan apparatus of the class described, a'-wheel,-a"pawl pivoted intermediate its ends and adapted to be alternately engaged at each side of its center of movement with said wheel, a governor device mounted to oscil late, an arm partaking of the movement of the governor device, and connecting means pivoted to said pawl device at each side or" its center of movement and pivoted to said arm at each side of its center of movement.

6. In an apparatus of the class described, a toothed wheel, an arm pivoted intermediate its ends, a pawl device pivoted intermediate its ends and adapted to engage said teeth alternately at its ends, connecting means coupled to said pawl, and means for adjustably coupling said connecting means to said arm.

7. In an apparatus of the class described, a supporting frame, a wheel mounted for rotation upon said frame, a pawl device pivoted intermediate its ends and adapted to be alternately engaged at each side of its pivot with said wheel, an arm pivoted intermediate its ends, and connecting means between said pawl device at each side of its pivot and said arm at each side of its pivot.

8. In an apparatus of the class described, a wheel, a pawl pivoted intermediate its ends and adapted to be alternately engaged at each side of its pivot with said wheel, an arm pivoted intermediate its ends, and connecting means between said pawl device at each side of its pivot and said arm at each side of its pivot.

9. In an apparatus of the class described, a wheel, a pawl pivoted intermediate its ends and adapted to be alternately engaged at each side of its pivot with said wheel, a governor device mounted to oscillate, an arm movable with said governor device, and connecting means between said pawl device at each side of its pivot and said arm at each side of its center of motion.

10. In an apparatus of the class described,

- a wheel, a pawl device mounted to swing in termediate its ends and adapted to be engaged alternately with said wheel, a governor device mounted to oscillate, and con necting means between said pawl device at each side of its center of movement with said governor device at each side of its center of movement.

11. In an apparatus of the class described, a wheel, a pawl device mounted to swing intermediate its ends and adapted to be en gaged alternately with said wheel, a governor device mounted to oscillate, connecting means coupled to said pawl device at each side of its center of movement, and means for adjustably coupling said connecting means to said governor device at each side of its center of movement.

12. In an apparatus of the class described, a wheel, a pawl pivoted intermediate its ends and adapted to be alternately engaged at each side of its pivot with said wheel, a longitudinally slotted arm pivoted intermediate its ends, coupling devices movable in the slots of said arm, and connecting means between said pawl device at each side of its pivot and said coupling devices.

In testimony whereof I afiiX my signature in presence of two witnesses.

HARNEY C. CODER. Witnesses:

I. J. HUNTER, M. F. GRAHAM.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

